The designation East Aegean Islands covers the easternmost Greek Islands of the Aegean Sea. The Eastern Aegean islands group is, like the Dodecanese, much closer to Turkey than to the Greek mainland.
Regions
38°23′24″N 25°54′0″E
Map of East Aegean IslandsIsland Ikaria: Capitol City: Agios Kyrikos located on the SE side of the Island. Evdilos, the other major city, is located on the North side of the island. The third largest city "Christos Raches" is well above the coast in the western part of the island. The cafes and other stores there generally open around 11:00 PM.
Description: Ikaria is a strikingly beautiful yet somewhat backward island. The people are very friendly and most accommodating. However, driving around the island you can't miss the abandoned vehicles and trash giving the island a third world demeanor. The beaches are generally rocky but picturesque.
Get in: Ferries run several times a week from Piraeus. There is an airport with connections to Athens and Crete. Flights run daily during the tourist season. During the winter flights and ferries are less frequent. A yacht marina opened in 2017.
- All of these islands have ferry links with Athens/Piraeus and the other islands in the area.
- Many of these islands have airline connections with Athens and in summer there are many charter flights from various airports in Europe, bringing in large crowds of tourists.
- Most of these islands have ferry links with respective nearest towns on the Turkish coast.
Get around: Car rentals are available at the airport and in the major cities.
See: Drive around the island to experience it's beautiful panoramas
Do: The people are very accommodating and friendly. Everyone is willing to help with directions or suggestions. There are three museums worth visiting with historical artifacts. Each village has patron saint and on the saints name day a celebration is held honoring that saint called a "panagiri". People come from villages around the island as well as other nearby islands for the food, wine and music.
Eat: The restaurants, open mainly until October are generally excellent. You must try the local fish (always fresh) as well as the local goat.
Drink: There are two wineries well worth visiting. Finding them is half the fun.
Stay safe: Roads are somewhat of an adventure. Some are paved, some are not-
==Go next== The islands of "Fourni" are a small boat ride away. The boat carrying groceries and other supplies leaves daily from the dock in Agios Kyrikos and will return in a few hours. Much smaller than Ikaria but well worth the boat ride. A great day trip